KOLKATA: Bihar succumbed to their straight second and third outright loss of the season as Assam beat them by nine wickets in their penultimate-round match of
Ranji Trophy
Elite Group B in Guwahati on Monday.
The day's hero was Assam left-arm spinner Rahul Singh who returned 5/49 as Bihar were bowled out for 292 following on at Barsapara Cricket Stadium. Overnight Bihar were 168 for three.
In reply to Assam's first innings score of 405 Bihar could manage 207 but in their second essay an improved batting display, led by centurion Piyush Singh, saw them put up 292 in 121 overs.
Playing 60 of those on final day helped Bihar delay the inevitable and set Assam a 95-run target for a victory.
Opener Parvej Musaraf was instrumental in the successful chase, remaining unbeaten on a quickfire 52 off 41 balls, his second half-century of the game as the home side romped home in 14.2 overs losing one wicket.
Other opener
Rahul Hazarika
departed scoring 22 runs off 33 balls while stand-in skipper Denish Das remained not out on 22 off 13 balls with three fours and a six.
Veer Pratap Singh
took the only wicket.
Assam, rooted to the foot of the league table with just two points prior to this game, got a lease of life with six points from the match and leapfrogged Bihar to the seventh spot on the eight-team roster. This was Assam's first win of the season, too. Bihar, with five points from six games, are now rock bottom.
Assam travel to Mumbai while Bihar will be up against Bengal at iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata for the final-round matches of the group.
Brief Scores: Assam 405 & 100/1 in 14.2 overs (Parvej Musaraf 52 not out). Bihar 207 & f/o 292 in 121 overs (Piyush Singh 103, Bipin Saurabh 44; Rahul Singh 5/49). Assam won by nine wickets. Points: Assam 6, Bihar 0
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